Printing method and apparatus for an ink-jet printer having a wide printhead

Abstract

A printing method and apparatus therefor are provided for an ink-jet printer having a wide printhead. Printing data is received. First printing dots are formed on a printing medium by a horizontal pitch using nozzles arranged in a first row according to colors. Second printing dots are formed at a position between the first printing dots by the horizontal pitch using nozzles arranged in a second row, with respect to the received printing data.

1 . A printing method for an ink-jet printer having a wide printhead in which nozzles of different colors are arranged in a plurality of rows, the method comprising 
 (a) receiving printing data; and    (b) forming first printing dots on a printing medium that are separated by a horizontal pitch using nozzles arranged in a first row according to a nozzle color and forming second printing dots at a position between the first printing dots by the horizontal pitch using nozzles arranged in a second row with respect to the received printing data.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) comprises 
 feeding the printing medium by a distance corresponding to a vertical pitch between the nozzles arranged in the first row and the nozzles arranged in the second row to perform printing in a normal mode; and    performing printing on the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row and the second row.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step (b) further comprises 
 printing a first printing of the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row that meet the printing medium first; and    printing a last printing of the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the second row.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) further comprises 
 feeding the printing medium by a pitch that corresponds to twice a distance corresponding to a vertical pitch between the nozzles arranged in the first row and the nozzles arranged in the second row to perform printing in a draft mode; and    performing printing on the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row and the second row.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step (b) comprises 
 feeding the printing medium by a distance corresponding to half of the vertical pitch between the nozzles arranged in the first row and the nozzles arranged in the second row to perform printing in a best mode;    performing printing on the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row;    feeding the printing medium by half of the vertical pitch; and    performing printing on the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the second row.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step (b) further comprises 
 printing a first printing of the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row that meet the printing medium first; and    printing a last printing of the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the second row.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) comprises 
 feeding the printing medium by a distance corresponding to half of a vertical pitch between the nozzles arranged in the first row and the nozzles arranged in the second row to perform printing in a best mode; and    performing printing on the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row and the second row.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step (b) further comprises 
 printing a first printing of the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the first row that meet the printing medium first; and    printing a last printing of the printing medium using the nozzles arranged in the second row.    
     
     
         9 . An ink-jet printer having a wide printhead in which nozzles of each color are arranged in two rows, wherein the nozzles of the printhead arranged in the two rows according to their respective colors comprises: 
 a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first row and separated by a horizontal pitch; and    a plurality of nozzles arranged in a second row that substantially correspond to the nozzles arranged in the first row and are shifted by half of the horizontal pitch from the nozzles arranged in the first row.    
     
     
         10 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 9 , wherein 
 a vertical pitch between the nozzles in the first row and the nozzles in the second row that substantially correspond to the nozzles in the first row is the same as the horizontal pitch.    
     
     
         11 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 9 , wherein 
 a vertical pitch between the nozzles in the first row and the nozzles in the second row that substantially correspond to the nozzles in the first row is a multiple of the horizontal pitch.    
     
     
         12 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 10 , wherein 
 the nozzles in the first row and the nozzles in the second row, respectively, are disposed in a substantially straight line in a main scanning direction.    
     
     
         13 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 10 , wherein 
 the plurality of nozzles of the first and second rows are connected to a nozzle plate.    
     
     
         14 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 13 , wherein 
 the plurality of nozzles of the first and second rows are connected to a plurality of nozzle plates.    
     
     
         15 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 14 , wherein 
 the plurality of nozzle plates are disposed in a plurality of rows.    
     
     
         16 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 9 , wherein 
 the plurality of nozzles of the first and second rows are arranged according to colors.    
     
     
         17 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 16 , wherein 
 the plurality of nozzles are disposed in an order of cyan, cyan, magenta, magenta, yellow, yellow, black, and black.    
     
     
         18 . The ink-jet printer of  claim 16 , wherein 
 the plurality of nozzles are disposed in an order of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.